Bonningues-lès-Ardres has several specific themes at its heart: the architectural history of the Église Saint-Léger, the technological history of the Moulin à farine Taufour Julienne, and a Natura 2000 site spanning four municipalities. There is also a cycling route that starts in the village and a farm shop selling directly to customers.
The architectural history of the Église Saint-Léger
The parish church of Bonningues-lès-Ardres is dedicated to Saint Léger. Its history cannot be reduced to a single construction date: the choir and nave date from 1824, while most of the church was rebuilt in 1870 by the architect Libersalle. The first date refers to two specific parts of the building; the second to a later, extensive reconstruction. The church is classified as Gothic. Taken together, these details show a layered building history, in which the architectural style, individual parts of the building and later reconstruction each have their own timeframe.
Another clue lies in a single furnishing: the church bell Françoise Marie Adèle was delivered on 2 April 1858 and weighs 415 kilograms. A description published in 2007 records that it was rung by hand to mark the Angelus prayer. This makes it possible to distinguish different historical layers of the church: the building’s architectural history and the bell’s documented use.
The mill’s history and surviving machinery
The Moulin à farine Taufour Julienne offers another way to explore the heritage. It is said to have been rebuilt by Mariel Matte in 1877; the end of its operation in 1957 is also reported as a possibility. Both dates therefore retain their qualification. Specific parts of the mill have also survived: the axle and wooden mechanism of the waterwheel, as well as two millstones, a bolting machine and a winnowing machine. The details range from a possible construction phase to surviving technical components. This makes the mill a distinct subject alongside the church’s architectural history: here, machinery and milling equipment are as much a part of the story as the dates.
Landscape and cycling
The Natura 2000 site La forêt de Tournehem et les pelouses du pays de Licques covers 453.43 hectares and spans four municipalities, including Bonningues-lès-Ardres. The protected area therefore extends beyond a single municipality and connects the village to a wider landscape. Alongside the historical themes, this gives you a clearly defined way to explore the surrounding area when choosing a destination.
The “Liaison douce Bonningues-lès-Ardres – Lumbres” cycling route starts in Bonningues-lès-Ardres. This starting point makes the route relevant to your travel plans: cycling can be considered as a focus in its own right, alongside the cultural and landscape themes. This offers a choice of different interests without requiring them to be combined into a fixed itinerary.
Farm shop and direct sales
The Ferme de la Vallée de la Hem adds a practical food-shopping consideration to your choice of destination. The farm is associated with sausages and other cured meats, meat, poultry and fresh meat; meat and sausages are sold directly from the farm. If you plan to shop there, check the sales arrangements before your visit. This lets you include a specific shopping stop in your travel plans, separate from the village’s cultural and landscape themes.
Discover more destinations: Rety, Saint-Georges, Dennebroeucq, Hesdin-lʼabbé, Fampoux, Wisques, Saint-Omer, Guînes
For the broader travel overview: Pas-De-Calais.
